ÔN LUYỆN HSG LỚP 8- JAN/2024

ĐỀ SỐ 15
You will hear an English woman called Britta talking to an interviewer about her life in Berlin, the capital of
Germany. For each question, circle the correct answer.
1. How long has Britta lived in Berlin?
A. four years B. six years C. twenty years
2. What does Britta say about living in Berlin?
A. She can’t sleep at night because of the traffic noise.
B. She misses the museums and theatres in Bonn.
C. She likes living in a big, busy city.
3. The area of Berlin where Britta lives is __________
A. a rather expensive place to live B. a good place to eat out
C. a long way from the city centre
4. Britta says that her nephew, Philippe, likes going __________
A. to the park with her B. to the shop with his parents
C. to a gallery with her
5. Britta has a lot of friends who __________
A. live near her B. work with her C. are still in England
Part 2: Listen to a talk and decide if these statements are True (T) or False (F). Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes.
T 1. Loans that are used to buy a home are known as mortgages.
T 2. A deposit can be worth about a tenth of the price of a home.
F 3. One of the mistakes banks made was they gave out loans to candidates with good credit report.
T 4. One result of the crisis is that a lot of mortgages went unpaid.
F 5. The speaker feels that banks alone are responsible for the crisis.
Part 3: You will hear a woman talking to a man about joining a drama club. Complete the note below with NO
MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
MIDBURY DRAMA CLUB
Background
Example: Answer
 Club started in __1957__
 prize recently won by (1) _YOUTH ___ section
 usually performs (2) _COMEDY _ plays
Meetings
 next auditions will be on Tuesday, (3) _12 TH MARCH __
 help is needed with publicity and (4) __LIGHTS __
 rehearsals take place in the (5) _COMMUNITY ___hall
 nearest car park for rehearsals in Ashburton Road opposite the (6)_SPORTS
CENTRE _
Costs
 annual membership fee is £ (7)__180 _____
 extra payment for (8)__COSTUMES/ COSTUME HIRE _
Contact
 secretary’s name is Sarah (9) __SAWDICOTT
 secretary’s phone number is (10) __07955240063_
SECTION I PHONETICS:
I. Choose the word which has the underl ined
part pronounced differently from that of the rest by
writing your answer ( A, B, C or D ) in the numbered box.
1. A. dread B. thread C. bread D. bead
2. A. switch B. catch C. match D. ache /k/
3. A. group B. dialogue C. hug D. gender
4. A. nursery B. nuclear C. purchase D. surface
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5. A. plumber B. celebrate C. describe D. abrupt
1. D 2. D 3. D 4. B 5. A

II. Choose the letter ( A, B, C or D ) next to the word whose main stress is placed differently from the others.
1. A. curriculum B. repetitious C. historical D. grammatical
2. A. psychological B. representative C. qualification D. popularity
3. A. scenic B. extreme C. official D. renewable
4. A. alcohol B. equator C. chemical D. comfortable
5. A. compliment B. effective C. charity D. activity
SECTION II . LEXICO - GRAMMAR:
I. Choose one word or phrase which best completes each sentence. Write your answer ( A, B, C or D ) in the
numbered box.
1. He refused to give up work, …………. he’d won a million pounds.
A. despite B. however C. even though D. as though
2. They were ………….. for smuggling jewerlery into the country.
A. judged B. arrested C. accused D. warned
3. At the end of the winter, the price of winter clothes in the shop usually ……… .
A. drops B. lowers C. sinks D. reduces
4. Do you have time to discuss your work now or are you ……. to leave?
A. thinking B. planned C. around D. about
5. Her parents never allowed her ……….. .
A. smoking B. to smoking C. to smoke D. some smoked
6. We don’t think she’ll ever ………… the shock of her son’s death.
A. get through B. get over C. get by D. get off
7. Twice three is ……… half of fourteen.
A. less than B. the same as C. greater than D. not less than
8. I found the book rather dull. I couldn’t read it…….. .
A. by the end B. to the end C. on the end D. at an end
9. Is it worth waiting for a table in this restaurant or shall we go …….. else?
A. anywhere B. otherwise C. somewhere D. everywhere
10. I hope this headache ……… soon.
A. goes out B. comes away C. wears off D. passes away =die
11. What the treasurer said virtually ……….. to a confession.
A. amounted B. came C. stood D. embodied
12. Marrying into such a rich family had always been …………. his wildest dreams.
A. under B. above C. over D. beyond
13. We failed to lay eyes on a tiger during our expedition, ………… film one.
A. let alone B. not to mention C. apart from D. but for
14. The ……. of the word is unknown, but it is certainly not from any Latin based language.
A. extract B. derivation C. genesis D. descent
15. Whether the sports club survives is a matter of complete …….. to me.
A. disinterest B. importance C. indifference D. interest
16. Unsalted butter is best for this recipe, but …… that, margarine will do.
A. except B. given C. for all of D. failing
17. Union leaders feel it is time Cabinet Ministers put their ………… on the table regarding their long-term plans.
A. cards B. hands C. feet D. papers
18. For the first night’s performance the ……. had to be called in to take the part because the
leading lady was ill.
A. substitute B. understudy = người C. reserve D. deputy
đóng thế, học việc
19. I can’t find my umbrella. Perhaps I have ………….. it on the bus.
A. forgotten B. put C. placed D. left
20. I don’t see any …….. in arriving early at the theater if the snow doesn’t start until 9 o’clock.
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A. cause B. aim C. point D. reason

II. Give the correct form of the word in brackets.

1. We are going to………….. our school next year. ( large )
2. She always listens …………… to what she is told. ( attention )
3. There was loud ………… as the clown fell off the ladder. ( laugh )
4. The alpine …………….. is very dramatic. ( land )
5. This matter is very ……………………. . Don’t discuss it outside the office. (confidence )
6. Such blocks are frequently left …………… and, as prices go up, they increase in value. (occupy)
7. Is there any difference between egoism and ………….. ? ( self )
8. The speaker showed his nervousness by constantly ……….. his tie. ( straight )
9. If you behave with this sort of ……… to your other customers, I don’t think you’ll remain in business long. ( polite )
10. The manager handed in his …………. after being accused of dishonesty. ( resign )

1. enlarge -v 6. unoccupied -adj =

2. attentively -adj 7. selfishness
3. laughter -n 8. straightening
4. landscape -n 9. impoliteness
5. confidential -adj 10. resignation
III. There is one mistake in each sentence. Find the mistake and write your correction in the space provided below.
1. We’d better not say anything, did we?
2. If you don’t like that program, you can switch always over to a different channel.
3. He stepped onto the scales and saw that he was the same weight like his friend.
4. The doctors have to go to school for many years to complete their education.
5. That new medicine will not be ready available until next year.
6. Did the teacher mind us whispering in the back of the room?
7. Long is going to decide about his future course of study.
8. He appeared nervously as he began to take the exam.
9. My neighbor has a lovely cat, but it meowing bothers me at night.
10. She could not help noticing the man to cry like a child.
1. did  had
2. switch always  always switch
3. like  as
4. The  
5. ready  readily
6. us  our
7. about  on
8. nervously  nervous
9. it  its
10. cry  crying

IV. Supply the correct form or tense of the verb in brackets.

1. The statue ( break )……….. while it ( move ) ………..to another room.
2. The teller was made ( lie )………… down on the floor.
3. Yesterday I ( walk ) ……………. along the road when I realized that a man with a black beard, whom I ( see )
………….. three times already, ( follow ) ……….. me.
4. This building ( finish ) …………… by the end of 2013.
5. You must tell me the truth. I insist on (tell ) …………the truth.
6. It’s no good ( call ) ……………. the police.
7. The environment in our city ( pollute ) ……………by exhaust gases from cars. We must do something to stop this.
1. was broken - was being moved =2ps
2. to lie
3. was walking, had seen, was following
4. had been finished
5. being told
6. calling
7. is being polluted

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V. Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with suitable particles

turn up set up put aside try on think over fall behind

take in

1. I wonder if this dress fits. I’ll ……TRY …….. it ………ON …………. and see.
2. “Did you enjoy the concert last night with Liz?” “We didn’t go. I waited an hour, but Liz didn’t TURN
UP ..”
3. Don’t spend the money you won. Why don’t you PUT ….. it …ASIDE …….. until you have enough to
buy something you really want? =save
4. I was ill for two weeks, so I’ve …FALLEN BEHIND ….. with my work.
5. This painting can’t possibly be an original. I think we’ve been TAKEN IN
SECTION III. READING:
I. Read the text below and decide which answer best fits each space given. Write your answer ( A, B, C or D ) in the
numbered box.
Most people think of computers as very modern inventions, products of our new technological age. But actually the
idea for a computer was (1) ……….out over two centuries ago by a man (2)………… Charles Babbage. Babbage was born
in 1791 and (3) …………up to be a brilliant mathematician. He drew up plans for several calculating machines (4)
……………he called “engines”. But despite the fact that he (5) ……………building some of these he never finished any of
them. Over the years people have argued (6) ………………his machines would ever work. Recently, however, the Science
Museum in London has finished building (7) …………..engine (8) …………. on one of Babbage’s designs.
It has taken six years to complete and more (9) ……………..four thousand parts have been specially made.
Whether it works or not, the machine will be on show at a special exhibition in the Science Museum to (10) ……………
people of Babbage’s work.
1. A. turned B. thought C. invented D. worked
2. A. known B. recognized C. called D. written
3. A. developed B. grew C. brought D. expected
4. A. which B. who C. there D. whose
5. A. wanted B. made C. started D. missed
6. A. until B. whether C. while D. though
7. A. an B. the C. some D. that
8. A. depended B. based C. insisted D. influenced
9. A. than B. therefore C. when D. then
10. A. remind B. say C. inform D. encourage

1. D 2. C 3. B 4. A 5. C
6. B 7. A 8. B 9. A 10. A

II. Read the passage below and fill each blank with one suitable word.
Speech is one of the most important (1) ……of communicating. It consists of far more than just making
noises. To talk and also to be (2) …… by other people, we have to speak a language, that is, we have to use
combinations of (3) …… that everyone agrees stand for particular object or idea. Communication would be (4)
…… if everyone made up their own language. Learning a language properly is very important. The basic (5)
……of English is not very large, and only about 2000 words are needed to (6) ……it quite well. But the more
words you know, the more ideas you can (7) …… and the more precise you can be about their exact meaning.
Words are the (8) …… thing we use in communicating what we want to say. The way we say the words is also
important. Our (9) …… of voice can express many motions and (10) ……whether we are pleased or angry, for
instance.

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 Speech is one of the most important (1) MEANS……of communicating. It consists of far more than just
making noises. To talk and also to be (2) UNDERSTOOD …… by other people, we have to speak a language,
that is, we have to use combinations of (3) SOUNDS…… that everyone agrees stand for particular object or
idea. Communication would be (4) IMPOSSIBLE …… if everyone made up their own language. Learning a
language properly is very important. The basic (5) VOCABULARY ……of English is not very large, and only
about 2000 words are needed to (6) SPEAK ……it quite well. But the more words you know, the more ideas you
can (7) EXPRESS …… and the more precise you can be about their exact meaning. Words are the (8) MAIN
…… thing we use in communicating what we want to say. The way we say the words is also important. Our (9)
…… TONE of voice can express many motions and (10) …… SHOW whether we are pleased or angry, for
instance.
III. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the
correct answer to each of the questions.
Long before they can actually speak, babies pay special attention to the speech they hear around them. Within the first
month of their lives, babies' responses to the sound of the human voice will be different from their responses to other
sorts of auditory stimuli. They will stop crying when they hear a person talking, but not if they hear a bell or the sound
of a rattle. At first, the sounds that an infant notices might be only those words that receive the heaviest emphasis and
that often occur at the ends of utterances. By the time they are six or seven weeks old, babies can detect the difference
between syllables pronounced with rising and falling inflections. Very soon, these differences in adult stress and
intonation can influence babies' emotional states and behavior. Long before they develop actual language
comprehension, babies can sense when an adult is playful or angry, attempting to initiate or terminate new behavior,
and so on, merely on the basis of cues such as the rate, volume, and melody of adult speech. Adults make it as easy as
they can for babies to pick up a language by exaggerating such cues.
One researcher observed babies and their mothers in six diverse cultures and found that, in all six languages, the
mothers used simplified syntax, short utterances and nonsense sounds, and transformed certain sounds into bab y talk.
Other investigators have noted that when mothers talk to babies who are only a few months old, they exaggerate the
pitch, loudness, and intensity of their words. They also exaggerate their facial expressions, hold vowels longer, and
emphasize certain words.
More significant for language development than their response to general intonation is observation that tiny babies can
make relatively fine distinctions between speech sounds. In other words, babies enter the world with the ability to
make precisely those perceptual discriminations that are necessary if they are to acquire aural language.
Babies obviously derive pleasure from sound input, too: even as young as nine months they will listen to songs or
stories, although the words themselves are beyond their understanding. For babies, language is a sensory-motor
delight rather than the route to prosaic meaning that it often is for adults.
1: Which of the following can be inferred about the findings described in paragraph 2?
A. Babies ignore facial expressions in comprehending aural language.
B. Mothers from different cultures speak to their babies in similar ways.
C. Babies who are exposed to more than one language can speak earlier than babies exposed to a single language.
D. The mothers observed by the researchers were consciously teaching their babies to speak.
2: According to the author, why do babies listen to songs and stories, even though they cannot understand them?
A. They can remember them easily.
B. They focus on the meaning of their parents' word.
C. They enjoy the sound.
D. They understand the rhythm.
3: The passage mentions all of the followings as the ways adults modify their speech when talking to babies EXCEPT
______________.
A. speaking with shorter sentences B. giving all words equal emphasis
C. using meaningless sounds D. speaking more loudly than normal
4: The word "diverse" is closest in meaning to ______________.
A. different B. surrounding C. stimulating D. divided
5: The word "They" refers to ______________.
A. words B. mothers C. investigators D. babies
6: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The differences between a baby's and an adult's ability to comprehend language
B. How babies perceive and respond to the human voice in their earliest stages of language development
C. The response of babies to sounds other than the human voice
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 D. How babies differentiate between the sound of the human voice and other sounds
7: The word "emphasize" is closest in meaning to ______________.
A. stress B. leave out C. explain D. repeat
8: What point does the author make to illustrate that babies are born with the ability to acquire language?
A. Babies exaggerate their own sounds and expressions.
B. Babies begin to understand words in songs.
C. Babies notice even minor differences between speech sounds.
D. Babies are more sensitive to sounds than are adults.

SECTION V. WRITING:
I. Rewrite the following sentences in such a way that the meaning of the second sentence
remains unchanged as the first one's.
1. They were seasoned travelers, which we hadn’t expected them to be.
=> Contrary…………………………………………………………………………
2. It was only when I left home that I realized how much my mother meant to me.
=> Not until…………………………………………………………………………
3. You should have called the doctor at once.
=> It was……………………………………………………………………………
4. Someone has suggested the resignation of the minister.
=> It…………………………………………………………………………………
5. Gary is proud of the fact that he is never late.
=> Gary prides………………………………………………………………………
6. Only two out of the five rooms we have booked have air conditioning .
=> We have booked five rooms, only……………………………………………….
7. Fiona was so disappointed that she could not keep on working.
=> Such …………………………………………………………………………….
8. Jack doesn’t know all the answers, though he pretends to.
=> Jack acts…………………………………………………………………………
9. We rely too much on the Internet. Therefore, our lives are in danger of becoming more impersonal.
=> Were……………………………………………………………………………………
10. As Michael became more famous, it was more difficult for him to avoid newspaper reporters.
=> The more……………………………………………………………………………….

1. Contrary to what we had expected (them to be) / our expectations, they were seasoned travelers.
2. Not until I (had) left home did I realize how much my mother meant to me.
3. It was wrong of you not to call the doctor at once.
4. It has been suggested that the minister should resign.
5. Gary prides himself on never being late.
6. We have booked five rooms, only two of which have air conditioning.
7. Such was Fiona’s disappointment that she could not keep on working.
8. Jack acts as if / as though he knew all the answers.
9. Were it not for our heavy / great / considerable reliance / our over – reliance on the Internet, our lives would not
be in danger of becoming more impersonal.
10. The more famous Michael became, the more difficult it was for him to avoid newspaper reporters.

II. For each of the sentences belw, write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the original sentence, but
using the word given. This word must not be altered in any way.
1. They had extinguished the fire by the time the fire brigade arrived. (put)
=> The fire …………………………………………………………………………
2. I offered to help her but she said ‘No, thanks’. (turned)
=> She ………………………………………………………………………………
3. She won’t be able to understand something as difficult as that. (capable)
=> She ………………………………………………………………………………
4. I have a friendly relationship with most people. (terms)
=> I’m ………………………………………………………………………………
5. He finds it impossible to make decisions. (hopeless)
=> He’s ………………………………………………………………………………

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1. The fire had been put out by the time the fire brigade arrived.
2. She turned down my offer of help.
3. She won’t be capable of understanding something as difficult as that.
4. I’m on good terms with everyone at work.
5. He’s hopeless at making decisions.

ÔN LUYỆN HSG LỚP 8- 2024

ĐỀ SỐ 15
Section 2. Phonetics: 2.0 points
I. Choose the word which has the underlined part pronounced differently from that of the rest by writing your
answer ( A, B, C or D ) in the numbered box. (1.0 point: 0.2 p for each)
1. D 2. D 3. D 4. B 5. A
II. Choose the letter ( A, B, C or D ) next to the word whose main stress is placed differently from the others. (1.0
point: 0.2 p for each)
1. B 2. C 3. A 4. B 5. D
Section 3. Lexico - Grammar: 7.0 points
I. Choose one word or phrase which best completes each sentence. Write your answer ( A, B, C or D ) in the
numbered box. ( 2.0 points: 0.1 p for each )
1. C 6. B 11. A 16. D
2. B 7. A 12. D 17. A
3. A 8. B 13. A 18. B
4. D 9. C 14. B 19. D
5. C 10. C 15. C 20. C
II. Give the correct form of the word in brackets. ( 2.0 points: 0.2 p for each )
1. enlarge 6. unoccupied
2. attentively 7. selfishness
3. laughter 8. straightening
4. landscape 9. impoliteness
5. confidential 10. resignation
III. There is one mistake in each sentence. Find the mistake and write your correction in the space provided below.
( 2.0 points: 0.2 p for each)
1. did  had
2. switch always  always switch
3. like  as
4. The  
5. ready  readily
6. us  our
7. about  on
8. nervously  nervous
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9. it  its
10. cry  crying
IV. Supply the correct form or tense of the verb in brackets. (1.0 point: 0.1p for each )
1. was broken - was being moved
2. to lie
3. was walking, had seen, following
4. will have been finished
5. being told
6. calling
7. is being polluted
Section 4. Reading: 4.0 points
I. Read the text below and decide which answer best fits each space given. Write your answer ( A, B, C or D ) in the
numbered box. (2.0 points: 0.2 p for each)
1. D 2. C 3. B 4. A 5. C
6. B 7. A 8. B 9. A 10. A
II. Read the passage below and fill each blank with one suitable word. ( 2.0 points: 0.2 p for each )
1. in 2. because 3. different 4. what 5. write
6. there 7. all 8. past 9. many 10. move
ĐỌC HIỂU
Câu 43: Đáp án B Câu 44: Đáp án CCâu 45: Đáp án BCâu 46: Đáp án ACâu 47: Đáp án B
Câu 48: Đáp án BCâu 49: Đáp án ACâu 50: Đáp án C

Section 5. Writing: 4.0 points

I. Rewrite the following sentences in such a way that the meaning of the second sentence
remains unchanged as the first one's. (2.0 points: 0.2 p for each )
1. Contrary to what we had expected (them to be) / our expectation, they were seasoned travelers.
2. Not until I (had) left home did I realize how much my mother meant to me.
3. It was wrong of you not to call the doctor at once.
4. It has been suggested that the minister should resign.
5. Gary prides himself on never being late.
6. We have booked five rooms, only two of which have air conditioning.
7. Such was Fiona’s disappointment that she could not keep on working.
8. Jack acts as if / as though he knew all the answers.
9. Were it not for our heavy / great / considerable reliance / our over – reliance on the Internet, our lives would not be in
danger of becoming more impersonal.
10. The more famous Michael became, the more difficult it was for him to avoid newspaper reporters.
II. For each of the sentences belw, write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the original sentence, but
using the word given. This word must not be altered in any way. (1.0 point: 0.2 p for each )
1. The fire had been put out by the time the fire brigade arrived.
2. She turned down my offer of help.
3. She won’t be capable of understanding something as difficult as that.
4. I’m on good terms with everyone at work.
5. He’s hopeless at making decisions.